(Monologue-- Act 2, Scene 2, lines 316-334, Folger Edition)
INTRODUCTION:
If you remember this scene from the movie, you also remember that R & G have just arrived at Elsinore in order to "spy" on Hamlet for the King and Queen. Hamlet of course realizes this, and calls them on it. They eventually admit that they were called for, but do not fully explain why. Hamlet realizes that his so called "friends" are being used against him. He is careful not to divulge his ultimate secret, but he does expose his thoughts to some degree.
At this point in the play, Hamlet's thoughts are more for the "audience" than they are directly for R & G. Hamlet begins to reflect upon what it means to be human. The knowledge of his father's murder, his treacherous "incestuous" uncle and his fickle mother have forced him to rethink the goodness in mankind. This again supports the running theme of "acting." Hamlet is certainly "acting" for just about everyone, including R, G, and the audience. The irony about all of Hamlet's "acting" is the fact that he isn't yet acting to avenge his father's "foul and most unnatural murder" (1.5.31). ANNOTATED SOLILOQUY:
HAMLET (speaking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern): I will tell you why. So shall my anticipation
prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the
King and Queen moult no feather.
The explanatory notes below clearly explain that Hamlet is aware of why they're here and that he will tell them about his feelings so that they can report back to the King and Queen. Hamlet knows they're spying, and they now know he knows. For now, the King and Queen do not know that R & G have been exposed.
I have of late, but
wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all
custom of exercises; and indeed, it goes so heavily 320
He admits that he's lost all happiness or "mirth" but he doesn't know why. He won't reveal too much. Of course, the easy answer is that his father has just died and his mother has very quickly remarried.
with my disposition that this goodly frame, the
earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most
excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'er-
hanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted
with golden fire—why, it appeareth nothing to me 325
than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.
Hamlet explains to R & G that even the earth, with it's "excellent" sky adorned with the golden rays of the sun, is no longer beautiful to him. He sees it as a place "foul" and diseased. He is referring to the evil and disloyal nature of mankind that his uncle and mother have revealed to him. He cannot separate their actions and nature from the entire human race. Hamlet sees the entire "earth" defiled by their actions.However, Hamlet never tells R & G why he feels this way.
What a piece of work is a man! how noble in
reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving
how express and admirable! in action how like
an angel! In apprehension how like a god! The 330
beauty of the world, the paragon of animals—and
yet to me what is this quintessence of dust? Man
delights not me—no, nor woman neither, though by
your smiling you seem to say so.
Hamlet ends this game with R & G by shifting his thoughts to man. Again, Hamlet reveals only part of what he is thinking to R & G. He never refers to who might have inspired his new opinions. However, you must remember that these lines are also for the audience. The power of these lines exists in Hamlet's depiction of mankind. Hamlet praises mankind's:
"reason" or ability to use the mind
"infinite...faculty" or unlimited potential "form...admirable" or physical beauty
"action...like an angel" or mankind's benevolence
"apprehension...like a god" or man is like a god
"paragon...animals" or the model of excellence
But none of these things matter to Hamlet anymore because he has realized that man is simply "dust," which is what we will all eventually become after death. See the explanatory note below. This paradox is very troubling for Hamlet, who now sees the wonders of mankind as meaningless.
316-17. my anticipation…discovery: my saying it first will keep you from having to reveal it 317-18. your secrecy…molt no feather: your promise of secrecy not be diminished 324. fretted: adorned 329. express: well framed 330. apprehension: understanding 332. quintessence: the very essence (The word is usually used to describe that which transcends the four earthly essences, but here is used ironically to describe mankind as, in essence, “dust” –made from dust to return to dust. See Genesis 2.7, 3.19.) CONCLUSION:
His father's death and the relatively easy way that he was taken from Hamlet have caused him to reevaluate everything. Of course, Hamlet is the type of character that will always look deep into the soul of every situation. The actions of his uncle and mother, not to mention the obvious disloyalty of R & G, are now all shaping Hamlet's attitude and being.
This scene is important because it shows the audience that the actions of all individuals reflect the nature of all humanity. The audience now knows that Hamlet is not only concerned with avenging his father's murder. He returned from the university, where we can surmise he was probably very much into philosophy and other intellectual pursuits, to find his world turned upside-down. It is at this point that the play becomes something more than a revenge play. And that is the defining power of Hamlet, and the greatest expression of Shakespeare's genius!
Folger Edition)
INTRODUCTION:
If you remember this scene from the movie, you also remember that R & G have just arrived at Elsinore in order to "spy" on Hamlet for the King and Queen. Hamlet of course realizes this, and calls them on it. They eventually admit that they were called for, but do not fully explain why. Hamlet realizes that his so called "friends" are being used against him. He is careful not to divulge his ultimate secret, but he does expose his thoughts to some degree.
At this point in the play, Hamlet's thoughts are more for the "audience" than they are directly for R & G. Hamlet begins to reflect upon what it means to be human. The knowledge of his father's murder, his treacherous "incestuous" uncle and his fickle mother have forced him to rethink the goodness in mankind. This again supports the running theme of "acting." Hamlet is certainly "acting" for just about everyone, including R, G, and the audience. The irony about all of Hamlet's "acting" is the fact that he isn't yet acting to avenge his father's "foul and most unnatural murder" (1.5.31).
ANNOTATED SOLILOQUY:
HAMLET (speaking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern):
I will tell you why. So shall my anticipation
prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the
King and Queen moult no feather.
The explanatory notes below clearly explain that Hamlet is aware of why they're here and that he will tell them about his feelings so that they can report back to the King and Queen. Hamlet knows they're spying, and they now know he knows. For now, the King and Queen do not know that R & G have been exposed.
I have of late, but
wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all
custom of exercises; and indeed, it goes so heavily 320
He admits that he's lost all happiness or "mirth" but he doesn't know why. He won't reveal too much. Of course, the easy answer is that his father has just died and his mother has very quickly remarried.
with my disposition that this goodly frame, the
earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most
excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'er-
hanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted
with golden fire—why, it appeareth nothing to me 325
than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.
Hamlet explains to R & G that even the earth, with it's "excellent" sky adorned with the golden rays of the sun, is no longer beautiful to him. He sees it as a place "foul" and diseased. He is referring to the evil and disloyal nature of mankind that his uncle and mother have revealed to him. He cannot separate their actions and nature from the entire human race. Hamlet sees the entire "earth" defiled by their actions. However, Hamlet never tells R & G why he feels this way.
What a piece of work is a man! how noble in
reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving
how express and admirable! in action how like
an angel! In apprehension how like a god! The 330
beauty of the world, the paragon of animals—and
yet to me what is this quintessence of dust? Man
delights not me—no, nor woman neither, though by
your smiling you seem to say so.
Hamlet ends this game with R & G by shifting his thoughts to man. Again, Hamlet reveals only part of what he is thinking to R & G. He never refers to who might have inspired his new opinions. However, you must remember that these lines are also for the audience. The power of these lines exists in Hamlet's depiction of mankind. Hamlet praises mankind's:
"reason" or ability to use the mind
"infinite...faculty" or unlimited potential
"form...admirable" or physical beauty
"action...like an angel" or mankind's benevolence
"apprehension...like a god" or man is like a god
"paragon...animals" or the model of excellence
But none of these things matter to Hamlet anymore because he has realized that man is simply "dust," which is what we will all eventually become after death. See the explanatory note below. This paradox is very troubling for Hamlet, who now sees the wonders of mankind as meaningless.
316-17. my anticipation…discovery: my saying it first will keep you from having to reveal it
317-18. your secrecy…molt no feather: your promise of secrecy not be diminished
324. fretted: adorned
329. express: well framed
330. apprehension: understanding
332. quintessence: the very essence (The word is usually used to describe that which transcends the four earthly essences, but here is used ironically to describe mankind as, in essence, “dust” –made from dust to return to dust. See Genesis 2.7, 3.19.)
CONCLUSION:
His father's death and the relatively easy way that he was taken from Hamlet have caused him to reevaluate everything. Of course, Hamlet is the type of character that will always look deep into the soul of every situation. The actions of his uncle and mother, not to mention the obvious disloyalty of R & G, are now all shaping Hamlet's attitude and being.
This scene is important because it shows the audience that the actions of all individuals reflect the nature of all humanity. The audience now knows that Hamlet is not only concerned with avenging his father's murder. He returned from the university, where we can surmise he was probably very much into philosophy and other intellectual pursuits, to find his world turned upside-down. It is at this point that the play becomes something more than a revenge play. And that is the defining power of Hamlet, and the greatest expression of Shakespeare's genius!
I love it!